Many were running up that set of coral stairs all the way into the gateway. Sadly for alot of them nightmare creatures attacked even inside, plus without coordination due to the adrenaline it was leading many to their death. For some reason though.. Sunny didn't act. He watched, still at the entrance. It was like he was looking at sheep without a shepherd. If this is what being a hero meant then..
Before he could finish those thoughts a burst of white flame shot up in the air before Nephis shot her hand out aiming at the gate.
"What are you all doing! You survived years under a tyrant! And then you survived another! And then after that you survived a battle field that created an ocean of blood! Yet this is where you lose yourself?! No.. On my name as changing star I promised you that we would win! So push forward!"
The pause of moment only lasted for a moment before seemingly everyone became coordinated once more. Nephis's eyes met his before he singaled to her that he was going for the crimson spires "final boss" that way the gateway would open.
Before he could see her response he was already dashing off. The only problem was where..
An explosion right next to him happened, a tentacle like limb breaking through the wall before pulling back in. Seeing the giant nightmare creature only one thought came to his mind.
'Well that was easy.'
Running into the hole he wasted no time summoning his mundane blade memory and throwing it with all his might at the creature. The blade absorbed into its stick.
So it's soft then? Dashing around the flying tentacles coming at him he slammed his fist into it only to be met with rock hard skin causing his fist to jump back.
'Damnation!'
More tentacles came flying at him, using the shadows he created a blade severing them as they came close.
This game of cat and mouse went on, It couldn't land a hit on him but he didnt get a chance to attack it, plus his stamina was already running low due to the previous battle.
This was a battle he wasn't sure he could win.. perhaps he, Nephis, and Cassie could sneak out they could even take Effie and Kai with them and find another gateway far away from the forgotten shore. But by doing so everyone here would die.
Another tentacle came flying at him, but this one he was a second late to cut causing him to be flung into a coral wall.
In that moment he was sunk into the wall many thoughts crossed his mind, let's say Cassie or Nephis had been the one to go and fight, if they had asked him to give the orders to go or not to go like he had done with Pauline what would he do?
Would he preserve their life and abandon everyone else's? Or would he become a hero for the people and do what's best for the collective majority?
He knew his awnser well.
He would choose the first.
Standing up from the hole he charged once more, yet this time he was slower, his cuts were shallower. Tentacles rained down on him slamming him into the floor repeatedly. His body was being battered the most it has been in a long time.
'I have a disdain for heroes... fools though? Fools I have quite a soft spot for...'
'You utter fool'
'Do not become a monster...'
'So I beg you, Sunny... even if you have to become a monster... don't die.'
Three voices ran throughout his head, was it due to the blood loss? Then another voice joined in, It was his own.
'It was like he was looking at sheep without a shepherd. If this is what being a hero meant then..'
Why did he even want to be a hero.. what started this.. it's obvious to him and it was obvious to Pauline also that he had no desire to be a hero for the people. That is why she called him a moth as they were both fools.
He must have passed out, or maybe he's dead? The reason he's saying that is because he's back in Auro's body laying down on the hill with Talia just like that night before the village was burnt to the ground.
Talia pointed at the barn, the sheep were sleeping, dreaming ever so good dreams.
"Flocks of sheep were are so stupid!"
Her laugh trickled out, it was something he hadn't heard in a long time.
"But that's how it should be is it not? After all I wouldn't want a sheep to suddenly stand on two legs and stack stones!"
She laughed once more before her face became blurry.
"Every living creature was ignorant, and every living creature was like a stupid animal... And that's what makes them worth protecting."
Her blurry smile appeared for most likely the last time he will ever see it.
"So stop crying and remember why came this far!"
A tentacle was about to crash down onto him once more, but that tentacle was swatted away by a heavy hit. That hit coming from a fist wrapped in so many shadows it was the size of a small cow.
In the other shadowless hand was a green ribbon.
Letting the ribbon head back into his soul sea he used his free hand to smack his bloodied face.
"Ok! I'm back in the game!"
A resolute smile appeared on his face.
"And that's what makes them worth protecting huh..?"
Putting one leg back he prepared to leap.
'Yet even so... even if you told me to stay, I would have gone anyway... and I'm sure you would do the same...'
"You're right Pauline.. I'm a fool, yet even so."
Jumping as high as he could rearing back his fast while even more shadows wrapped around it in the air, using every last drop of his essence.
"Aren't hero's by definition fools!"
Slamming the ginormous fist into the creature its hard skin became soft once more due to the impact, sinking into it and destroying its very core.
The sound of the spell played in his ears, not that he could hear it at the moment right now anyways.
Limping towards the hole in the wall he was met with someone.
"Why are you still here.. Cassie?"